What lives where
%APPDATA%\…\Explorer\Quick Access
rendered state, pinned + frequent folders
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
per-user recent-item shortcuts — links, friendly evidence, no contents
Jump-list AutomaticDestinations
app-specific MRU lists; the GUI you see per taskbar icon
The decision before action
- Recent items is a convenience cache: delete the .lnk files; nothing is lost but the list. It's up to user-defined cleanup ritual.
- Quick Access clear: right-click its option “Clear” or via Folder Options — Explorer's own supported path beats any file-game;
- Duration consideration: recent items age out by policy on enterprise; locally they persist until cleared. Know the difference before poorly-configured inbox reviews.
No deletion of Explorer internals is a candidate for a ProofTune cleanup pass — this post exists to guide you to the supported clear buttons, and to illustrate that “safe” is a documented-by-vendor property, not a “we swear” property.
ProofTune ProjectEngineering notes — every claim here names the bytes a real tool touches. Verify first, install second.
